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COLLECTION · Series · 1999

The West Wing

The West Wing provides a glimpse into presidential politics in the nation's capital as it tells the stories of the members of a fictional presidential administration. These interesting characters have humor and dedication that touches the heart while the politics that they discuss touch on everyday life.

Source: TMDB
* 8.3 (581)DramaUnited States
Soundtrack
Google
Creators
Aaron Sorkin
Countries
United States
Studios
NBC · John Wells Productions · Warner Bros. Television
Age rating
TV-14
Release
22/09/1999
Score
8.3 / 10 (581)

Awards and nominations

  • Alan Alda — Emmy Award, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2006)
  • Stockard Channing — Emmy Award, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (2002)
  • Allison Janney — Emmy Award, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (2000, 2001)
  • Richard Schiff — Emmy Award, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2000)
  • Martin Sheen — Golden Globe Award, Best Actor in a TV-Series – Drama (2001)
  • John Spencer — Emmy Award, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2002)
  • Bradley Whitford — Emmy Award, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2001)
Where to watch
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Seasons and episodes
Specials
Specials
3 episodes · 2001
Isaac and Ishmael
Episode 1. Isaac and Ishmael
2001-10-03 · 45 min

While the White House is in lock down, Josh and the staff try to put the events of 9/11/01 in context for a group of gifted high schoolers.

Episode 2. Documentary Special
2002-04-24 · 45 min

This documentary special interspersed clips from several episodes in the series with interviews of former occupants of the real West Wing, including Presidents Ford, Carter and Clinton and members of their staffs.

Episode 3. The Debate (East Coast)
2005-11-06 · 45 min

Santos and Vinick battle it out in primetime live. Forrest Saywer the moderator poses questions and attempts to ensure that the candidates remain within bounds. Ellen DeGeneres guest hosts the show on behalf of American Express and their…

Season 1
Season 1
22 episodes · 1999
Pilot
Episode 1. Pilot
1999-09-22 · 41 min

The senior members of the White House staff are summoned to the office early in the morning to handle difficult situations: Hundreds of Cubans are on their way across the Atlantic Ocean in search of freedom; and klutzy President of the…

Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc
Episode 2. Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc
1999-09-29 · 38 min

The Vice President refuses to fall in line with Bartlet. Sam discusses the problem of Laurie with Josh and Toby. Bartlet hires Mandy as his consultant.

A Proportional Response
Episode 3. A Proportional Response
1999-10-06 · 41 min

Still enraged at Morris's death, Bartlet makes a show of deadly force. C.J. is upset about being kept out of the loop about Laurie. Josh hires Bartlet's new personal assistant.

Five Votes Down
Episode 4. Five Votes Down
1999-10-13 · 41 min

Five votes keep a very important gun-control bill from being passed and the staff has 72 hours to track down the errant congressmen. Toby is accused of manipulating the stock market by having a friend testify to Commerce on internet…

The Crackpots and These Women
Episode 5. The Crackpots and These Women
1999-10-20 · 41 min

The staffers spend the day ("Big Block of Cheese day") dealing with private organizations, aka the crackpots. Throughout the day, Sam deals with a UFO nut, CJ gets a proposal to build a wolves-only road, Toby and Bartlet clash over…

Mr. Willis of Ohio
Episode 6. Mr. Willis of Ohio
1999-11-03 · 41 min

Toby and Mandy push for a commerce bill with a census-counting provision, with three votes as the deciding factor. Sam tutors CJ on the finer points of the census. Josh & Sam take Charlie out for a beer and are joined by Zoey and Mallory.

The State Dinner
Episode 7. The State Dinner
1999-11-10 · 41 min

The president of Indonesia is honored at a state dinner. The staff deals with Hurricane Sarah, a potential teamster strike, and a raid involving children in Idaho while a reporter flirts with CJ.

Enemies
Episode 8. Enemies
1999-11-17 · 41 min

Bartlet and Hoynes argue in front of the Cabinet. CJ fends off Danny's advances when she suspects he's after a big story. Mallory asks Sam out. The staff leaps hurdles to pass a banking bill.

The Short List
Episode 9. The Short List
1999-11-24 · 41 min

Bartlet struggles to name a nominee to the Supreme Court when the perfect nominee turns out to be not so perfect. A congressman attacks the staff, claiming that 1 in 3 use drugs.

In Excelsis Deo
Episode 10. In Excelsis Deo
1999-12-15 · 41 min

Toby tries to arrange a proper funeral for a homeless veteran. Josh and Sam try to set up a preemptive strike against Lillienfield, who is attacking Leo because of his prior drug and alcohol problem. CJ tries to get the staff to revisit…

Lord John Marbury
Episode 11. Lord John Marbury
2000-01-05 · 41 min

War breaks out between India and Pakistan and Bartlet consults with Lord John Marbury. Toby accuses CJ of being too friendly with the press when she objects to being kept in the dark. The staff realizes that Lillienfield's efforts to…

He Shall, from Time to Time
Episode 12. He Shall, from Time to Time
2000-01-12 · 41 min

Bartlet collapses before his first State of the Union address. Leo publicly admits to his former alcoholism and drug abuse. Things get interesting romantically for both Sam and CJ. Lord John Marbury helps the staff negotiate an agreement…

Take out the Trash Day
Episode 13. Take out the Trash Day
2000-01-26 · 41 min

Josh and Sam are able to make a bargain to keep Leo from going through a hearing, at the expense of a new sex education report. Mandy doesn't think a couple should be present at the signing of a new hate crimes bill instigated by the…

Take This Sabbath Day
Episode 14. Take This Sabbath Day
2000-02-09 · 41 min

After the Supreme Court refuses to stay the execution of a convicted murderer, Bartlet has forty-eight hours to decide whether or not to commute the sentence. Josh faces off with Joey Lucas about his staff's not backing her candidate as…

Celestial Navigation
Episode 15. Celestial Navigation
2000-02-16 · 41 min

Toby and Sam travel to Connecticut to get Roberto Mendoza released from jail; Josh must run a press briefing when CJ has an emergency root canal.

20 Hours in L. A.
Episode 16. 20 Hours in L. A.
2000-02-23 · 41 min

Bartlet and the senior staff fly to California to attend an important fundraiser. Hoynes must decide whether he will support Bartlet's stance or go with his convictions when the Senate is deadlocked on an ethanol tax bill.

The White House Pro-Am
Episode 17. The White House Pro-Am
2000-03-22 · 41 min

Abbey keeps the staff busy with the fallout when she leaks her personal preference for a Federal Reserve Board appointment and discusses child labor on a talk show, prompting a Congresswoman to offer an amendment which could shoot down…

Six Meetings Before Lunch
Episode 18. Six Meetings Before Lunch
2000-04-05 · 41 min

Mendoza is confirmed by the Senate; Mandy needs Toby's help to replace a dead panda bear; Sam angers Mallory when she reads a position paper that he wrote supporting school vouchers; Josh meets with Jeff Breckenridge, who is irritating…

Let Bartlet Be Bartlet
Episode 19. Let Bartlet Be Bartlet
2000-04-26 · 40 min

Mandy's old memo about Bartlet administration weaknesses surfaces; Josh tries to get administration nominees appointed to the Federal Elections Committee; Sam works to get a better policy on gays in the military.

Mandatory Minimums
Episode 20. Mandatory Minimums
2000-05-03 · 41 min

Andrea Wyatt insists that mandatory minimums be added to a new drug policy the staff is developing; C.J. makes a mistake and sets them back.

Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics
Episode 21. Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics
2000-05-10 · 41 min

Bartlet gets closer to making the FEC campaign finance reform-friendly, but his opponents strike back by making Sam's former dalliance with the call girl public knowledge; CJ waits anxiously for the administration's approval rating.

What Kind of Day Has It Been
Episode 22. What Kind of Day Has It Been
2000-05-17 · 41 min

The staff deals with the crisis of an American pilot who was shot down in Iraq; Toby's brother is in danger on a space shuttle whose doors won't close; Bartlet and the senior staff walk into trouble as they leave a town meeting.

Season 2
Season 2
22 episodes · 2000
In the Shadow of Two Gunmen (1)
Episode 1. In the Shadow of Two Gunmen (1)
2000-10-04 · 41 min

"In the Shadow of Two Gunmen" is the two-part second season premiere of the American political drama television series The West Wing. Both parts were written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by Thomas Schlamme.

In the Shadow of Two Gunmen (2)
Episode 2. In the Shadow of Two Gunmen (2)
2000-10-04 · 40 min

With the accomplice in custody, it's revealed that the intended target was Charlie, not Bartlet. The staff still awaits news about Josh, and recalls how C.J. and Donna came to join the Bartlet campaign.

The Midterms
Episode 3. The Midterms
2000-10-18 · 41 min

While Josh recovers from bullet wounds there's a noticeable tension among some of the White House Staff. Toby is gung-ho to go after extremist groups in light of the attack. Charlie withdraws from the first family after learning more…

In this White House
Episode 4. In this White House
2000-10-25 · 41 min

To investigate the cost and availability of AIDS medication needed in Africa, the White House plays host to representatives of American pharmaceutical companies and the president of an African nation; C.J. accidentally leaks information…

And It's Surely to Their Credit
Episode 5. And It's Surely to Their Credit
2000-11-01 · 41 min

Leo tries to make Ainsley's arrival as painless as possible, despite resistance from her new boss and several other White House staffers; Donna helps with the President's weekly radio address; C.J. tries to derail a retiring General's…

The Lame Duck Congress
Episode 6. The Lame Duck Congress
2000-11-08 · 40 min

The president considers recalling the Senate to push ratification of a nuclear-test-ban treaty. Meanwhile, Donna lobbies new legislation introducing ergonomic standards in the White House; A Ukrainian politician shows up at the White…

The Portland Trip
Episode 7. The Portland Trip
2000-11-15 · 40 min

After ridiculing Notre Dame, C.J. is forced to accompany the President on a trip to Oregon; Toby and Sam struggle to write Jed's education speech for the following day; back at the White House, Josh tries to dissuade a gay Congressman who…

Shibboleth
Episode 8. Shibboleth
2000-11-22 · 40 min

Toby encourages the President to appoint Leo's controversial sister to a national education post, against Leo's objections; Bartlet must decide what the do with 83 Chinese citizens who stowed away on a freighter ship and seek asylum on…

Galileo
Episode 9. Galileo
2000-11-29 · 40 min

On the eve of Jed's participation in a national television conference with thousands of school children as the Galileo probe arrives at Mars, NASA loses the communication link; Leo contends with a Russian ambassador who denies that a fire…

Noël
Episode 10. Noël
2000-12-20 · 41 min

Josh investigates the suicide of a pilot with whom he has things in common; Donna tries to get an invitation to the Congressional Christmas party to hear Yo-Yo Ma perform; Jed insists on signing a mountain of Christmas cards himself;…

The Leadership Breakfast
Episode 11. The Leadership Breakfast
2001-01-10 · 41 min

To get real issues to be discussed at a bi-partisan breakfast, Toby makes a deal with a former acquaintance who is the majority leader's new Chief of Staff to strike a bargain and put an issue on the agenda, thereby undermining CJ and…

The Drop-In
Episode 12. The Drop-In
2001-01-24 · 40 min

The test of a missile defense program meets 9 of 10 essential criteria. But the 10th is the sticking point: hitting the target. Sam is livid when a speech he wrote is changed without consulting him.

Bartlet's Third State of the Union
Episode 13. Bartlet's Third State of the Union
2001-02-07 · 41 min

The President delivers his 3rd State of the Union address, what critics call "the speech of his political career" and ends up angering Abbey by what he does and doesn't say; Josh must work the polling center with Joey Lucas, but a power…

The War at Home
Episode 14. The War at Home
2001-02-14 · 41 min

Bartlet authorizes a special ops team to rescue the five DEA agents only to have them caught in an ambush; CJ arranges for the host of "Capitol Beat" to have an exclusive interview with the wronged police officer; Toby must deal with…

Ellie
Episode 15. Ellie
2001-02-21 · 41 min

During an online chat, the Surgeon General comments favorably on the legalization of marijuana. The controversy heightens when Ellie Bartlet tells a reporter that her father would never fire the Surgeon General. Toby asks his ex-wife, a…

Somebody's Going to Emergency, Somebody's Going to Jail
Episode 16. Somebody's Going to Emergency, Somebody's Going to Jail
2001-02-28 · 41 min

It's Big Block of Cheese Day again. Toby meets with World Trade Organization protesters, and CJ meets with a group of cartographers who want the standards for maps changed to be a more accurate reflection of geographical and political…

The Stackhouse Filibuster
Episode 17. The Stackhouse Filibuster
2001-03-14 · 41 min

The staff is blindsided when an elderly senator stages a Friday night filibuster to block their Family Wellness bill; Toby is confused when VP Hoynes, a strong supporter of the oil industry, volunteers to give a speech attacking the…

17 People
Episode 18. 17 People
2001-04-04 · 41 min

Toby, suspicious that there's something going on with the President, finds out about Bartlet's MS and informs Leo of the legal ramifications; Josh and Donna disagree about the date of their "anniversary"; Sam and Ainsley argue about the…

Bad Moon Rising
Episode 19. Bad Moon Rising
2001-04-25 · 40 min

Bartlet confers with Babish on the legal ramifications of his MS cover-up; Sam has a personal interest in an oil spill off the coast of Delaware; Josh and Donna argue about a loan to Mexico; Toby orders C.J. to flush out a leak in the…

The Fall's Gonna Kill You
Episode 20. The Fall's Gonna Kill You
2001-05-02 · 41 min

Babish menacingly questions CJ and Abbey about their involvement in the MS cover-up while Josh asks Joey Lucas to create a hypothetical poll the gauge the public's reaction; Sam is happy with a projected smaller-than-expected budget…

18th and Potomac
Episode 21. 18th and Potomac
2001-05-09 · 40 min

The staff prepares for the worst as they make arrangements for the public announcement of the President's condition; Sam and Babish grill Abbey about her medical treatment of the President's MS; a crisis erupts in Haiti; Josh deals with…

Two Cathedrals
Episode 22. Two Cathedrals
2001-05-16 · 41 min

On the day of Mrs. Landingham's funeral, the staff deals with a Haitian presidential crisis and the law suit against the big tobacco companies, and Bartlet must decide about running for reelection.

Season 3
Season 3
21 episodes · 2001
Manchester (1)
Episode 1. Manchester (1)
2001-10-10 · 38 min

Bartlet's decision about Haiti falls under scrutiny; C.J. makes a horrible blunder in a press conference and is hounded about the president's health by reporters; the staff disagrees about whether Bartlet should apologize for not…

Manchester (2)
Episode 2. Manchester (2)
2001-10-17 · 41 min

The senior staff clash with the consultants who are to work on Bartlet's reelection campaign; C.J. is concerned that the press senses the Bartlets' marriage could be in trouble; Josh asks Leo to let him use his connection to postpone the…

Ways and Means
Episode 3. Ways and Means
2001-10-24 · 40 min

The Special Prosecutor sets his probe in motion; Sam and Bruno are concerned about the loyalty of a powerful labor leader; Toby and Josh are preoccupied with a congressional battle over the estate tax; Ainsley fixes up Donna with a…

On the Day Before
Episode 4. On the Day Before
2001-10-31 · 41 min

When Bartlet vetoes the "death tax", the staff must scramble to keep the veto from being overridden; Josh tries to smooth talk a promising governor who is considering running against the President; Charlie is urged to ask for immunity in…

War Crimes
Episode 5. War Crimes
2001-11-07 · 41 min

The President has a showdown; Donna lies when she appears before the Congressional committee investigating the President; Leo debates with an old friend about the US future stance regarding the war crimes tribunal; Sam tries to find the…

Gone Quiet
Episode 6. Gone Quiet
2001-11-14 · 38 min

When an American spy submarine suddenly goes silent in hostile North Korea, Bartlet must decide whether to inform the enemy or attempt a secret rescue operation; Abbey learns her past malpractice suits might compromise Bartlet's criminal…

The Indians in the Lobby
Episode 7. The Indians in the Lobby
2001-11-21 · 40 min

While Bartlet worries about where he will be on Thanksgiving--and how to best cook a gourmet turkey -- C.J. meets with two Native Americans, Maggie and Jack, who are camped in the White House lobby.

The Women of Qumar
Episode 8. The Women of Qumar
2001-11-28 · 41 min

At Abbey's urging, Josh meets with a powerful women's caucus over the proposed language of a United Nations treaty banning prostitution.

Bartlet for America
Episode 9. Bartlet for America
2001-12-12 · 42 min

Leo fears the worst when he testifies in the congressional investigation into Bartlet's lack of public disclosure about his illness.

H. Con-172
Episode 10. H. Con-172
2002-01-09 · 41 min

Leo defiantly rejects the Congressional Oversight Committee's offer of a public censure of Bartlet that would finally bring an end to the investigation and spare Leo of any possible personal repercussions.

100,000 Airplanes
Episode 11. 100,000 Airplanes
2002-01-16 · 40 min

On State of the Union night, Sam is being trailed by a magazine reporter to whom he was once engaged; the President' Congressional censure weighs heavily on staffers' minds as they debate whether to include an anti-cancer initiative in…

The Two Bartlets
Episode 12. The Two Bartlets
2002-01-30 · 40 min

On the day of the Democratic Caucus, Bartlet, Toby and C.J. go to Iowa to kick off the presidential race, and disagree over Bartlet's making a statement about affirmative action. Back in Washington, Leo forces Josh to intercede with an…

Night Five
Episode 13. Night Five
2002-02-06 · 41 min

Stanley Keyworth revisits the White House to uncover the reason Bartlet hasn't been able to sleep since the night of the Iowa caucus; C.J. enlists Leo's help in freeing a White House reporter kidnapped while on assignment in the Congo;…

Hartsfield's Landing
Episode 14. Hartsfield's Landing
2002-02-27 · 41 min

On the day before the New Hampshire primary, Josh drafts Donna as his frontwoman to ensure that Bartlet wins the nation's first primary in the small town of Hartsfield's Landing; C.J. and Charlie play an ever-escalating game of practical…

Dead Irish Writers
Episode 15. Dead Irish Writers
2002-03-06 · 39 min

Concern arises over the medical board's decision on Abbey's actions in treating Jed's M.S.; Sam tries to get a Senator he doesn't like to pass a bill for a super-conducter that he doesn't even understand; Amy tries to influence Josh; Lord…

The U.S. Poet Laureate
Episode 16. The U.S. Poet Laureate
2002-03-27 · 41 min

Toby looks forward to meeting the new U.S. Poet Laureate; Jed fires the first salvo of his reelection campaign when he calls his likely opponent less than brilliant, and the national press just can't get enough of it; Ainsley gets…

Stirred
Episode 17. Stirred
2002-04-03 · 39 min

Hoynes and Bartlet each make an unexpected announcement about Hoynes' place on the ticket; fears of a terrorist attack arise when a truck carrying depleted uranium-fuel rods is involved in a head-on collision in an Idaho tunnel; Donna…

Enemies Foreign and Domestic
Episode 18. Enemies Foreign and Domestic
2002-05-01 · 41 min

The revelation that a Russian company may be building a heavy water reactor in Iran puts Jed in a difficult position as he prepares to meet with the new Russian president; Jed orders the Secret Service to protect C.J. when she receives…

The Black Vera Wang
Episode 19. The Black Vera Wang
2002-05-08 · 40 min

Bartlet and the staff are on high alert when they receive reports of an impending attack on a military installation; Josh is furious when he discovers that a gift he passed on to Donna, who in turn passed in on to an unpaid intern, ends…

We Killed Yamamoto
Episode 20. We Killed Yamamoto
2002-05-15 · 41 min

While Jed, Leo and Fitzwallace grapple with terrorism and moral absolutes, Josh and Amy grapple with each other over a welfare-reform bill; Donna represents the White House at a North Dakota state-party caucus whose goal is to remove the…

Posse Comitatus
Episode 21. Posse Comitatus
2002-05-22 · 41 min

Bartlet continues to struggle over the wisdom of assassinating the terrorist Qumari defense minister; after Ritchie declines to meet Bartlet, Sam and Toby play a dirty trick; as the search for Mrs. Landingham's replacement continues,…

Season 4
Season 4
23 episodes · 2002

Season four follows the re-election of President Bartlet to his second term and we witness the gripping personal crisis that forces him to chose between the best interests of the country and those of his family.

20 Hours in America (1)
Episode 1. 20 Hours in America (1)
2002-09-25 · 41 min

Toby, Josh, and Donna learn the hard way about the lack of accessible public transportation in the heartland when they spend a long day trying to get back to Washington after the motorcade leaves them behind during a campaign stop in…

20 Hours in America (2)
Episode 2. 20 Hours in America (2)
2002-09-25 · 40 min

Donna teaches Toby and Josh an important lesson as their trek homeward continues; Sam staffs the President in Josh's absence and welcomes an old friend home; Bartlet hires a secretary and C.J. finds a Big Brother for Anthony; the…

College Kids
Episode 3. College Kids
2002-10-02 · 41 min

Bartlet decides he needs a lawyer when Qumar goes after Israel; Josh is disturbed to learn that Stackhouse might not endorse Bartlet; a comment Deborah made years ago comes back to haunt her during a security check.

The Red Mass
Episode 4. The Red Mass
2002-10-09 · 41 min

Leo meets with the Israeli Foreign Minister to enlist Israel's assistance with the Shareef investigation, but is ultimately foiled by the Qumari; the debate about the Ritchie debates rages on until the staff comes up with a brilliant…

Debate Camp
Episode 5. Debate Camp
2002-10-16 · 41 min

As the staff prepares for the presidential debates at a North Carolina conference center, a vexing question about a failed attorney-general nomination (amid charges of racial profiling) leads to flashbacks of the administration's first…

Game On
Episode 6. Game On
2002-10-30 · 41 min

Bartlet, Leo, Josh, Sam and C.J. pull a practical joke on Toby; Sam's mission to end the Wilde campaign leads him to make a career-altering decision; Jordan backs up Leo as he deals with the Qumari; Toby continues to press his case with a…

Election Night
Episode 7. Election Night
2002-11-06 · 41 min

Election day finally arrives with the staff eagerly anticipating the outcome; Sam is increasingly concerned about the Wilde campaign in Orange County; Toby worries about the effect of Andy's pregnancy on the voters; Donna accidentally…

Process Stories
Episode 8. Process Stories
2002-11-13 · 41 min

The staff celebrates election night and encourages Sam to run for the seat in Orange County; Toby continues to worry about how Andrea's pregnancy will play politically for both of them; a coup develops in Venezuela; Jed and Abbey endure…

Swiss Diplomacy
Episode 9. Swiss Diplomacy
2002-11-20 · 39 min

The 15-year old son of an Iranian leader needs a heart transplant in the U.S. Problem is, the only man who could do it is an enemy of the Iranian government; The Senate minority leader threatens to thwart the President's legislative…

Arctic Radar
Episode 10. Arctic Radar
2002-11-27 · 40 min

When a celebrated female fighter pilot is threatened with a dishonorable discharge for refusing to end her affair with an enlisted man, the staff, though full of opinions, agrees that the White House should not get involved; Donna asks…

Holy Night
Episode 11. Holy Night
2002-12-11 · 43 min

It's December 23, and the holiday brings several visitors to the White House: Zoey comes home with her new French boyfriend in tow; aided by Josh, Toby's father seeks a reconciliation; and Danny arrives bearing gifts of gold and a…

Guns Not Butter
Episode 12. Guns Not Butter
2003-01-08 · 40 min

Josh, determined to make sure a foreign aid bill passes even though it's a hopeless cause, sends Donna out to track down a reluctant senator; in an attempt to impress Zoey's new boyfriend, Charlie unwittingly gets over his head with the…

The Long Goodbye
Episode 13. The Long Goodbye
2003-01-15 · 40 min

While Toby unsuccessfully attempts to fill her shoes in the briefing room, C.J. returns to Dayton, where she gives a speech at her high school reunion, reconnects with an old friend, and struggles with her father's worsening Alzheimer's.

Inauguration (1)
Episode 14. Inauguration (1)
2003-02-05 · 40 min

The staff wrangles with the State Department over language in the inaugural address; a genocidal war breaks out in Kundu, and Bartlet weighs his options as Will pushes for American military involvement based on Bartlet's statements in the…

Inauguration: Over There (2)
Episode 15. Inauguration: Over There (2)
2003-02-12 · 41 min

Toby discovers that Will's frankness, stubbornness, and commitment to ideals is much like his own; Charlie remains on the hunt for an inaugural Bible; Bartlet and the staff continue to debate over sending American troops into Kundu to…

The California 47th
Episode 16. The California 47th
2003-02-19 · 40 min

Bartlet plays hardball to end the genocide in Kundu; after the entire speechwriting staff quits, Will is forced to rely on Elsie and some inexperienced interns to write tax policy remarks; the trip to California to help Sam's campaign…

Red Haven's on Fire
Episode 17. Red Haven's on Fire
2003-02-26 · 39 min

While Toby and C.J. are in California working on Sam's campaign, Josh drops Abbey's agenda in favor of his own, Jed deals with a military hostage situation, and Will runs his intern writing staff ragged.

Privateers
Episode 18. Privateers
2003-03-26 · 40 min

Toby's old friend approaches him ready to blow the whistle on his employer's violations of environmental laws; staff pranks abound on Amy's first day at the office; Abbey charges Amy with the task of convincing the President to threaten a…

Angel Maintenance
Episode 19. Angel Maintenance
2003-04-02 · 39 min

Air Force One is forced to keep aloft for almost 24 hours when an indicator light leads the flight crew to believe that the landing gear isn't functioning properly; Bartlet and Will have a spirited discussion on Colombian recertification,…

Evidence of Things Not Seen
Episode 20. Evidence of Things Not Seen
2003-04-23 · 41 min

The White House is locked down after a gunman on the street fires shots into the West Wing; Josh interviews a candidate to replace Ainsley Hayes; Bartlet negotiates for the return of a spy plane is forced down over Russia; the staff plays…

Life on Mars
Episode 21. Life on Mars
2003-04-30 · 41 min

On his first day at work, Joe Quincy pieces together three news leaks and uncovers a scandal which forces Hoynes to resign.

Commencement
Episode 22. Commencement
2003-05-07 · 41 min

Bartlet finally tells the staff the truth about the death of Shareef; Danny agrees to hold off on the story after five alleged terrorists go missing; Andy goes into labor after once again refusing Toby's marriage proposal; Zoey is…

Twenty Five
Episode 23. Twenty Five
2003-05-14 · 42 min

When Bartlet learns that Zoey's kidnapping is the work of Qumari terrorists, he invokes the 25th amendment to diminish their leverage and eliminate any conflict of interest; since there's no Vice President, the power of the Presidency…

Season 5
Season 5
22 episodes · 2003
7A WF 83429
Episode 1. 7A WF 83429
2003-09-24 · 39 min

As the search for Zoey continues, Walken takes a hard line against the kidnappers that could contribute to her death; Danny releases the Shareef story, and the revelation creates a rift that separates Jed from Abbey and Liz; tensions…

The Dogs of War
Episode 2. The Dogs of War
2003-10-01 · 40 min

Bombs drop on Qumar upon Walken's orders; as the hours pass without any word on Zoey's whereabouts, tensions increase within the Bartlet family; Walken and Leo clash after Josh's suspicion that the opposition is using Walken's tenure in…

Jefferson Lives
Episode 3. Jefferson Lives
2003-10-08 · 41 min

When he realizes that his first choice for Vice President faces an uphill fight for nomination, Jed nominates a congressman that none of the staff can get excited about; Josh is less than thrilled with his new intern.

Han
Episode 4. Han
2003-10-22 · 40 min

Josh fails to sway an unruly congressman who insists on voting against the administration on the vice presidential confirmation, but Ryan reaches out to get him to change his mind; Leo fears that the potential defection of a prominent…

Constituency of One
Episode 5. Constituency of One
2003-10-29 · 40 min

Will Bailey receives an offer to become Vice President Russell's top aide. Amy Gardner does some skillful lobbying for domestic violence prevention which gets the wrath of Bartlet. A conservative democratic senator switches parties.

Disaster Relief
Episode 6. Disaster Relief
2003-11-05 · 40 min

The fallout on the Hill from Carrick's switch to the Republican party exiles Josh deep into a White House doghouse, so C.J. gives Donna some tips on how she can support him; Jed gets a harsh reality check from C.J. when he lingers too…

Separation of Powers
Episode 7. Separation of Powers
2003-11-12 · 40 min

As Chief Justice Ashland's health problems continue to mount, Joe Quincy, Ashland's former clerk, is pressed into service to persuade him to retire; as C.J. prepares Zoey for a sit-down interview about her kidnapping, Abbey reveals that…

Shutdown
Episode 8. Shutdown
2003-11-19 · 40 min

Jed's decision not to be held hostage by Haffley shuts down the federal government; unable to get through to Jed and fearing the worst, Leo calls in the reinforcements, and Abbey returns to Washington to deliver a message and provide her…

Abu el Banat
Episode 9. Abu el Banat
2003-12-03 · 41 min

The Bartet clan attempts to gather for a holiday dinner. Jed must deal with a hostage situation in Sudan, an assisted suicide in Oregon, his son-in-law's yearn to run for the House of Representatives, and his grandson's want to spend time…

The Stormy Present
Episode 10. The Stormy Present
2004-01-07 · 41 min

President Bartlet attends the funeral of a former president with other former presidents Glenallen Walken and D. Wire Newman, while monitoring a possible situation in Saudi Arabia. Josh Lyman mediates an argument between a representative…

The Benign Prerogative
Episode 11. The Benign Prerogative
2004-01-14 · 40 min

In the days leading up to the State of the Union address, Toby gets crucial voter feedback when he accompanies Joey as she mall-tests the speech around the nation; Jed and the staff wrestle with the issues of presidential pardons and…

Slow News Day
Episode 12. Slow News Day
2004-02-04 · 41 min

Toby gets Jed's support to seize a controversial window of opportunity to save Social Security, but is hampered by Jed's mandate to keep the operation under wraps; desperate to feed the press corps beast on a glacially slow news day, C.J.…

The Warfare of Genghis Khan
Episode 13. The Warfare of Genghis Khan
2004-02-11 · 40 min

An unlikely party comes to the aid of the administration as it seeks to discover the party responsible for nuclear testing in the Indian Ocean; Will is unhappy, but his boss doesn't seem to mind, when a request to beef up the Vice…

An Khe
Episode 14. An Khe
2004-02-18 · 40 min

When five navy E-2C Hawkeye crew members are stranded in North Korea, Bartlet orders a risky Navy Seal rescue attempt. C.J. agrees to one on one with a motormouth conservative talk show host.

Full Disclosure
Episode 15. Full Disclosure
2004-02-25 · 40 min

He's back, Former VP John Hoynes, who resigned in sex scandal, makes a bid for political resurrection by trashing Barlet and Leo in a tell-all book. But it's C.J. who's taking the news the hardest.

Eppur Si Muove
Episode 16. Eppur Si Muove
2004-03-03 · 40 min

When a conservative Republican Congresswoman targets Ellie's research project in an effort to discredit Jed, Toby discovers that the source of the leak is uncomfortably close to home, and Will realizes that they've all greatly…

The Supremes
Episode 17. The Supremes
2004-03-24 · 39 min

Jed and the staff vet potential Supreme Court appointees; Toby and Andy don't see eye-to-eye on her fact-finding trip to the Middle East; Donna's parents are the unlikely inspiration for the resolution to the problems arising from the…

Access
Episode 18. Access
2004-03-31 · 40 min

A documentary camera crew follows C.J. around for a not-so-typical day in the White House.

Talking Points
Episode 19. Talking Points
2004-04-21 · 41 min

Hail the conquering hero. Josh returns after nailing down details for a trade agreement. But the devil in the detail, including information kept from Josh. C.J. fights megamedia ownership of local TV.

No Exit
Episode 20. No Exit
2004-04-28 · 41 min

An airborne contamination alert locks down the West Wing, forcing staffers to stay put until the all-clear is sounded; Toby and Will face off over Will's working for the vice president; C.J. tells Donna some things she'd rather not hear…

Gaza
Episode 21. Gaza
2004-05-12 · 40 min

Donna Moss, Percy Fitzwallace, Andrea Wyatt and a couple of congressmen are in the Middle East on a fact finding mission when their cars are blown up. President Bartlet considers possible military targets to bomb in retaliation. In…

Memorial Day
Episode 22. Memorial Day
2004-05-19 · 40 min

Jed weighs his options for responding to the bombing as Israeli and Palestinian forces face off against each other; Josh has an interesting reaction when Colin arrives at the hospital to visit Donna; Kate and Leo clash over the advice…

Season 6
Season 6
22 episodes · 2004
NSF Thurmont
Episode 1. NSF Thurmont
2004-10-20 · 40 min

As they remain at Donna's bedside while she recuperates from surgery to remove a pulmonary embolism, Colin questions Josh about his personal relationship with Donna. When Bartlet and Leo clash over the appropriate response to the Gaza…

The Birnam Wood
Episode 2. The Birnam Wood
2004-10-27 · 40 min

Bartlet orders a strike on the terrorist training camp as he and his staff broker a peace settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians, but Bartlet and Leo realize that their differences over the peace settlement are…

Third-Day Story
Episode 3. Third-Day Story
2004-11-03 · 40 min

Leo is rushed into bypass surgery after suffering a massive heart attack; as Toby and Josh scramble chaotically to get votes after Haffley demands Democratic support for a tax cut in exchange for ratification of the peace plan, it becomes…

Liftoff
Episode 4. Liftoff
2004-11-10 · 41 min

Margaret and Charlie prove to be invaluable allies as C.J. has a rough first day in her new position, made even more difficult by a Russian bearing radioactive gifts and a Defense Secretary's attempts to undermine her; Toby's less than…

The Hubbert Peak
Episode 5. The Hubbert Peak
2004-11-17 · 40 min

Hours before the CAFE standards amendment is defeated, Josh succumbs to the lure of test driving a monster SUV while shopping for a Prius and gets into a fender-bender that proves embarrassing to the administration, so he's saddled with…

The Dover Test
Episode 6. The Dover Test
2004-11-24 · 40 min

The peace mission suffers its first American casualty, whose father is sharply critical of the administration; Santos breaks ranks with the party by signing onto Republican legislation for a patient bill of rights when his own bill dies…

A Change Is Gonna Come
Episode 7. A Change Is Gonna Come
2004-12-01 · 40 min

Hoynes throws his hat in the presidential ring, and asks Josh to join his campaign; Jed's health begins to deteriorate; Toby and Kate head the protocol negotiations with the Chinese over the arrangements for the upcoming summit, which is…

In the Room
Episode 8. In the Room
2004-12-08 · 40 min

Penn and Teller roll a lesson about the First Amendment into their entertainment at Zoey's White House birthday party, setting off a media frenzy and public relations nightmare; Baker drops out of the race, leaving the field free for…

Impact Winter
Episode 9. Impact Winter
2004-12-15 · 40 min

As acting chief of staff, Josh calls Leo in for backup when the news about Jed's health hits; the staff follows the progress of an asteroid headed for earth; Jed struggles with his relapse as C.J., Kate, and Toby handle the repercussions…

Faith Based Initiative
Episode 10. Faith Based Initiative
2005-01-05 · 41 min

A senator attaches a rider to the federal budget bill that would ban gay marriage, almost daring the President to veto it, as the physical infirmities of Bartlet's MS become more pronounced. The Internet is rampant with a story that…

Opposition Research
Episode 11. Opposition Research
2005-01-12 · 41 min

Santos starts up his presidential campaign in New Hampshire, where he immediately disagrees with Josh on campaign philosophy: "No opposition research, no dirt on our opponents." Josh has an uncomfortable reunion with Russell campaign…

365 Days
Episode 12. 365 Days
2005-01-19 · 41 min

On the day after Bartlet gives his last State of the Union address, Leo returns to the West Wing but has difficulty getting the attention of the rest of the staff for a meeting about what to do during the remaining 365 days of Barlet's…

King Corn
Episode 13. King Corn
2005-01-26 · 41 min

The presidential candidates journey to Iowa, where democrats Russell and Santos, and republican Vinick, are all told by their handlers that when they appear before before the corn growers association they must support subsidies for the…

The Wake Up Call
Episode 14. The Wake Up Call
2005-02-09 · 41 min

Valentine's Day starts badly when the Iranian air force shoots down a British airliner, killing 100 passengers. The U.K. Prime Minister threatens to retaliate by bombing nuclear reactor sites, which could doom future support for political…

Freedonia
Episode 15. Freedonia
2005-02-16 · 41 min

It's five days before the New Hampshire primary, and Josh is desperately trying to find a "silver bullet" that will get his candidate into the local debate between the two front-runners, Vice President Russell and former Vice President…

Drought Conditions
Episode 16. Drought Conditions
2005-02-23 · 40 min

A new candidate for president, Senator Rafferty, has garnered much media attention with a ground-breaking speech about health care. But her words contain interesting echoes of President Bartlet's original health plan, which is known only…

A Good Day
Episode 17. A Good Day
2005-03-02 · 41 min

Santos engineers a plot to get a stalled stem-cell bill scheduled for a vote in the House. President Bartlet has an uncomfortable reunion with a rival economist with whom he split the Nobel Prize. A group of underage kids tries to…

La Palabra
Episode 18. La Palabra
2005-03-09 · 41 min

Santos is campaigning in California during the last few days before the all-important "Super Tuesday" primary elections, but he is out of money and he trails both Russell and Hoynes in the polls. When even "La Palabra", a Latino voters…

Ninety Miles Away
Episode 19. Ninety Miles Away
2005-03-16 · 41 min

New rumors about Fidel Castro's health cause the President to re-examine the economic sanctions against Cuba that haven't worked for 40 years, and he sends Leo McGarry to meet secretly with the Cuban dictator. The occasion causes C.J. to…

In God We Trust
Episode 20. In God We Trust
2005-03-23 · 41 min

Senator Vinick, now the Republican Presidential nominee, receives advice from former Bartlet political consultant Bruno Gianelli on how to win all 50 states in the general election, and more specifically in the near term how to present…

Things Fall Apart
Episode 21. Things Fall Apart
2005-03-30 · 41 min

Faced with a Democratic party in disarray in the face of the strongest Republican challenger they have ever had, Bartlet asks Leo to take charge of the potentially chaotic Democratic National Convention, while Santos considers a…

2162 Votes
Episode 22. 2162 Votes
2005-04-06 · 40 min

At the Democratic National Convention, Russell, Santos and Baker jockey for the 2162 votes that will give one of them the nomination for President, and the opportunity to lose to the apparently unstoppable Vinick in November. Meanwhile,…

Season 7
Season 7
22 episodes · 2005

After nearly eight years, President Bartlet's time in the White House has come to an end, and two formidable men vie for the Presidency: Arnold Vinick, a Republican senator from California, and Matthew Santos, a three-term Houston Democratic congressman. After suffering a heart attack, former Advisor to the President Leo McGarry resolutely serves as…

The Ticket
Episode 1. The Ticket
2005-09-25 · 40 min

As everyone but Josh causes Santos to question his choice of Leo as his running mate, Bartlet's investigation into the dangerous press leak continues. Also C.J. gets interviewed by Babish and Donna approaches Josh for a job.

The Mommy Problem
Episode 2. The Mommy Problem
2005-10-02 · 41 min

Santos and Vinick have to deal with press fallout when it looks like the Bartlet White House is not going to continue the investigation into the press leaks.

Message of the Week
Episode 3. Message of the Week
2005-10-09 · 40 min

It's three weeks into the presidential campaign and Vinick meets with Frost out on the trail. Santos pulls a stunt which leads to higher approval ratings and jolts the Vinick camp. Vinick and Santos try to kick each other politically…

Mr. Frost
Episode 4. Mr. Frost
2005-10-16 · 39 min

Margaret is interrogated at a hearing held by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence; Santos deflects religious questions onto Vinick; Someone gives C.J. intelligence information; a Palestinian leader is assassinated and Bartlet…

Here Today
Episode 5. Here Today
2005-10-23 · 41 min

The White House is trying to cope with the revelation of the identity of the leaker and Babish's questioning of Toby convinces him that he must get his lawyer. Lou persuades Josh to get Santos to clean house with his campaign staff. Kate…

The Al Smith Dinner
Episode 6. The Al Smith Dinner
2005-10-30 · 40 min

Donna is back and she's working for the Santos/McGarry campaign, but not for Josh. An attack ad on Santos by a pro-life group puts Vinick in a corner when Santos demands Vinick renounce it but Vinick knows that if he does it will offend…

The Debate
Episode 7. The Debate
2005-11-06 · 41 min

Santos and Vinick battle it out in primetime live. Forrest Saywer the moderator poses questions and attempts to ensure that the candidates remain within bounds. Ellen DeGeneres guest hosts the show on behalf of American Express and their…

Undecideds
Episode 8. Undecideds
2005-11-13 · 40 min

Lou and Santos run into trouble on the road when they try to pick up a family's vote; their child was shot by a Latino police officer. Also, CJ must manage a crisis between China and Kazakhstan.

The Wedding
Episode 9. The Wedding
2005-12-11 · 41 min

Santos is working on campaign strategy, Ellie's getting married, Abbey is welcoming guests, Bartlet's making jokes, China and Kazahkstan are about to go to war, Carol makes an appearance, and Josh may get fired.

Running Mates
Episode 10. Running Mates
2006-01-08 · 40 min

All eyes are looking forward to the Leo McGarry/Ray Sullivan Vice Presidential debate. Meawhile, Santos is trying not to catch his children's cold and he visits his home in Texas and continues to campaign. Jorge Santos, the Congressman's…

Internal Displacement
Episode 11. Internal Displacement
2006-01-15 · 40 min

The Westins visit Washington and Doug is keeping a secret from Liz that many other senior staffers already know about. C.J. tries to make a deal with the French to try to handle a problem in the Sudan. Gail is in trouble. Josh asks Will…

Duck and Cover
Episode 12. Duck and Cover
2006-01-22 · 40 min

Bartlet must deal with the possiblity of a nuclear explosion in California, Kate is keeping a careful watch on the election in Kazakhstan and China's response, Will is acting as the government's voice this week, and Josh is trying to keep…

The Cold
Episode 13. The Cold
2006-03-12 · 40 min

After the near-nuclear disaster at the power plant the polls show surprising, or maybe not so surprising, results for both candidates. The Vinick camp gears up for backlash while the Santos camp hopes for cause to celebrate. Meanwhile…

Two Weeks Out
Episode 14. Two Weeks Out
2006-03-19 · 40 min

There are only two weeks left before Election Day and both candidates must make difficult choices at a time when they are both extremely tired. Vinick meets a famous athlete who greets him with a welcome that sings possible campaign…

Welcome to Wherever You Are
Episode 15. Welcome to Wherever You Are
2006-03-26 · 40 min

The Santos campaign meets up with Rock the Vote. Helen gives a lecture to a National Latina Organization, but her heritage doesn't help her when trying to deliver part of the Santos campaign message. Toby is being pressured by Attorney…

Election Day (1)
Episode 16. Election Day (1)
2006-04-02 · 40 min

Election Day finally arrives, and between analyzing exit polls, and mulling over news reports, a few Santos staff members discover the joys of campaign romance. Meanwhile, C.J. ponders life after the White House; and Annabeth makes a…

Election Day (2)
Episode 17. Election Day (2)
2006-04-09 · 40 min

Abbey is in New Hamphire with Liz Bartlet-Westin and they are awaiting the results of Doug Westin's campaign for a seat in Congress. Members of both the Santos campaign and the Vinick campaign must decide how to handle a tragedy, as the…

Requiem
Episode 18. Requiem
2006-04-16 · 40 min

Bartlet, Santos, and their staff members attend a funeral for one of their own. Also, Josh cautions Santos about getting involved in the vote for Speaker of the House.

Transition
Episode 19. Transition
2006-04-23 · 41 min

Bartlet and his staff make the transition as easy as possible for the president-elect, who discovers some unpleasant realities about his new job.

The Last Hurrah
Episode 20. The Last Hurrah
2006-04-30 · 41 min

While Santos is busy trying to select a new vice president, his wife finds her new responsibilities staggering. Meanwhile, Vinick ponders his next move.

Institutional Memory
Episode 21. Institutional Memory
2006-05-07 · 41 min

C.J. and Will both face uncertain futures as Bartlet and his staffers prepare to leave the White House to make way for the Santos administration.

Tomorrow
Episode 22. Tomorrow
2006-05-14 · 40 min

While Santos and his winning camp are nervously gearing up for the presidential inauguration, current President Bartlet, CJ, and the others fondly look back as they prepare to leave the White House forever.

Cast by season
Martin Sheen
Martin Sheen
Josiah Bartlet
Rob Lowe
Rob Lowe
Sam Seaborn
Allison Janney
Allison Janney
C.J. Cregg
Richard Schiff
Richard Schiff
Toby Ziegler
John Spencer
John Spencer
Leo McGarry
Bradley Whitford
Bradley Whitford
Josh Lyman
Dulé Hill
Dulé Hill
Charlie Young
Janel Moloney
Janel Moloney
Donna Moss
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User reviews
Horseface
★ 1.0 / 10
Pepa the Pig for Adult Liberals. Or maybe, "Mickey Mouse Takes Office." I can't decide. Perhaps I'm hyper sensitive, having been what equates to an American liberal for most of my life (I'm Danish, and here being liberal puts you on the right, but I've been a lefty for more than forty years), but trying to watch this show instantly fatigues me. Not because of the acting, which is above average, the dialog, which is well-written if overly verbose, not even the stories, which seem implausible but entertaining, and this IS fiction, so you need to allow for unrealistic and entertaining things happening 24/7. Otherwise it'd get boring. No, what drains my energy is the way it treats me as a mental toddler. It's the way the resentment for people with opposing views (conservatives, religious people, etc.) is matched only by the self-righteousness and the conviction of having the moral high ground and superior intelligence. The ease with which people are divided into moral and immoral boxes based on their religious views, political affiliation, or even demography. And isn't it nice, because we all agree that religious zealots are terrible, right? That conservatives are immoral, right? That Texans are stupid, right? Lucky we have our club, where we're educated, virtuous and bearers of The Right Morals™. Episode one present a religiously based conflict that is so overly constructed that it borders on pathetic (hence my Pepa the Pig reference). The conflict is resolved not through discussion or discourse, but by president Mickey Mouse turning up and revealing how the religious group is in cahoots with people sending his twelve-year-old daughter a death threat in the form of basically a voodoo doll. How convenient. Such lazy writing. I wonder how a diplomatic person with some deep rhetorical skills might have solved that conflict in lieu of one side basically declaring moral bankruptcy. I don't know, maybe some kind of political figure, like a head of state or something. Guess that's for another show. This show has trumpets blaring instead, while the camera pans across our great imaginary president Highground. Just for the record, even though my father was a priest and I was raised Christian, today I think religion is garbage and I've been an atheist for about 25 years. But that's my opinion and it says nothing about my moral values, and what anyone else believes doesn't either. I just don't appreciate this lazy and presumptuous "religious conservative therefore bad, amirite?" fallacy. I quit at the beginning of episode two, when President Mouse basically says they didn't lose Texas in the primaries because of a joke about cowboy hats, but because Texans are stupid, or "when the president learned Latin," as it puts it. One has to wonder if the writers just don't care about alienating an entire state of potential viewers, or if they think Texans are so stupid they didn't catch that insult. Either way, the club that you're supposed to be in to be able to watch something like this and think it's okay to disrespect your opponent's intelligence and points of view in this manner is not one I want to be a member of. Not anymore. I'm done with this restrictive and divisive club of supposedly morally superior intelligencia, with the undercurrent of resentment and obnoxious entitlement. I'm sick and tired of having echo chamber "discussions" where you constantly fear stepping out of line lest you be called a bigot, or a racist, or a misogynist, or a Nazi, or whatever is the most efficient card you can use to shut down even the slightest sign of dissent from the implicit party line. And yes, as I said, I'm probably hyper sensitive because this to me is such a large problem right now, but that's why I can't watch this. I'm surprised a show from 1999 is this blatantly and unapologetically biased, but maybe that's because I've been liberal myself all that time and it just seemed okay. I mean, the religious and conservatives ARE wrong, and mostly idiots, right? To my religious and conservative friends who watch this and get rightfully offended, from a former liberal who thought this was okay, even truth, and behalf of my other liberal friends who still think like this but aren't bad people, I apologize. And think of it like this: With shows like these being made, and much worse media content being released currently, some people, like me, get increasingly turned off by the divisiveness and implicit brainwashing, to the point where they simply stop being liberals. I don't know what I'm gonna vote next time, but it won't be left. If I were American, I wouldn't vote Democrat. But then, there'd have to be a candidate other than Trump, because I don't think that guy has America's interests at heart, only his own.
TMDB
CinemaSerf
The first edition, indeed season, of this political drama is as good as it gets. Aaron Sorkin has created a monster - in just about every sense - and the cast led by Martin Sheen ("President Bartlet") consistently deliver well as the senior advisors in his administration - alongside some sadly infrequent appearances from his no-nonsense wife (Stockard Channing) - guide us through the daily trials and tribulations accompanying American government. For the most part, the pace is hectic, controlled (sometimes) by the calming, sagacious influence of his Chief of Staff "Leo" (John Spencer) and deals with just about every sort of scenario - domestic, foreign, familial and collegiate that comes across the paths of the Director of Communications (Richard Schiff), his deputy (Rob Lowe), the Press Secretary (Allison Janney) as well as "Josh Lyman" (Bradley Whitford) - the passionate but occasional liability that is the deputy Chief of Staff. Sorkin and the cast manage, effortlessly, to create a series of scenarios that reminded me of both "Yes, Minister" and the original (British) "House of Cards" - comedy and humour expertly mixed with politicking on a grand, yet personal, scale. Nothing is off limits insofar as the subjects covered and it presents as authentic a depiction of government as we are ever likely to see. Personally, I though Stockard Channing added loads to this as the First Lady and Janney and Spencer's characters gave me hope that maybe, just maybe, someone in there knew what the hell was going on. Of course it takes an hugely American perspective on things, which as a non-American grated a bit on occasion with an intermingling of fact and fiction that sometimes compromised the integrity of the stories; but in the main it is one hell of a watch. Unfortunately, around about the start of series four, the writing starts to slide and the cast - fresh and vibrant at the beginning of the run - begin to take too great a role behind the camera; the plots become too personal (even romantic) and far-fetched. The original stars feature a bit less and it loses much of it's potency and it's plausibility. Certainly, the last two series which focus on presidential succession and sidelined many of the cast we had followed since day one left me cold and disinterested. By the conclusion I felt there had been maybe two series too many... At it's best, it is great, thought-provoking, entertainment though and well worth binging on.
TMDB
T
tmdb40011370
★ 8.0 / 10
Without a shadow of a doubt, THE finest political TV drama ever to come out of a studio! Despite its rather liberal happy-clappy perspective with most of its secondary storylines, TWW is exceptionally well-written and very rarely fails to deliver some rather thought-provoking episodes. I have had many boxset marathons with this show over the years, and I must admit my adulation for certain seasons has changed somewhat in that time. Back then I adored the first 4 seasons, while dismissing season 5 outright, and only having a grudging respect for seasons 6 & 7. But these days I much prefer 6&7 over 1, 3 and 4. No idea why but there you go! As for the acting, well other than Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe and John Spencer the first few seasons were a cast of relative unknowns, but come the middle of S1 it doesn't matter because the likes of Alison Janey's CJ, Bradley Whitford's wonderful Josh Lyman and Richard Schiff's brooding Toby Ziegler play their roles exceptionally well. Of course the greatest aspect of this show is the writing, especially for the first four seasons when Aaron Sorkin was directly involved. And even after he left under a cloud the writing for season 5 and beyond was still very good, if a little uneven. It has been awhile since I last picked up on this show. So come the winter months I might just snuggle down and enjoy the walk & talk with these guys once again.
TMDB
Peter McGinn
★ 10.0 / 10
If every program on TV was this good I'd never leave the house. I have to agree with the reviewers who call this the best drama show ever, at least for entertainment value. Of course, it gets panned often for political reasons by people who perhaps don't watch it enough to see that, yes, it is a liberal administration being represented here, but they often make mistakes and fail in their efforts, so it is hardly a progressive utopia. I write novels in my spare tome, and I like to think my dialogue is a strong point, so I have nothing but admiration for the fast and witty conversations in this show. You may literally have to watch the series a second time to catch everything thrown at you in their quick back and forth banter, often delivered as they pace around the West Wing set. But that is no hardship either. Much has been made about Aaron Sorkin's departure from the show, and perhaps there was a slight drop in quality because of it, but it was still well worth watching. It was so good, the new kids couldn't break it.
TMDB
Keywords
washington dc, usathe white houseusa presidentpoliticsgovernmentpolitical intrigueusa politicspolitical consultantpolitical conflictchief of staff
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